LSG with back to back wins have put their campaign on track this season while KKR are still blowing hot and hold.
I had considered Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma as the most feared opening pair in T20s, but their form has perilously nose-dived while a new pair is slowly but surely taking their place. I am talking of Mitch Marsh and Aiden Markram who are making LSG a strong outfit. And with Nicholas Pooran following them, the warning bells are ringing for the opposition.
Mitch Marsh produced a brilliant 81 of 48 balls and along with Markram ( 47 of 28 ) laid the perfect foundation for Pooran to unleash himself on KKR.
KKR bowlers suffered at the hands of Nicky P as he put on an exhilarating display of amazing strokeplay with power and consumate ease, a combination rarely seen. Pooran with his immense talent took the KKR bowlers to the cleaners and scored an unbeaten 87 of just 36 balls with 7 fours and 8 sixes to take LSG to a formidable 238 in 20 overs.
KKR, however, were not to be intimidated and came out bravely firing on all cylinders led by Ajinkya Rahane and reached 90 in the power play. The stage was set for a record chase but once Ajinkya left in the 13th over, wickets fell in a heap and once looking a promising chase suddenly lost way.
Credit has to be given to LSG bowlers who kept their cool and fought tooth and nail while the KKR batters suffered nerves as the goal post neared and even though Rinku Singh played a blinder the defending Champions eventually fell short by 4 runs.
A painful loss for KKR but a great victory for LSG.